Classic Tramways of Belgium

A brand-new tour exploring the charming cities of Belgium and their delightful vintage tramways. Travel aboard specially chartered heritage trams and enjoy exclusive experiences in beautiful locations rich in culture and history.

• Taking advantage of London’s close proximity and short travel time, you will spend your first night in the charming historic centre of Brussels. For the remainder of the tour, you will be based in the beautiful Flemish city of Ghent, staying in a high-quality, centrally located hotel. Ideally positioned near major tram and rail interchanges, the hotel provides easy access to Ghent’s elegant landmarks and its scenic tram network during your free time.
• The tour includes every Belgian tram network and tramway museum, visiting Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, the North Sea Coast, the newly opened system in Liège, and the wonderful rural interurban line between Lobbes and Thuin. At the tramway museums, private charters will take you over rare track and behind the scenes in depot areas. You will also have free time in each city for photography or independent exploration using complimentary rover tickets.
• Throughout the week you will travel on a carefully selected collection of privately chartered heritage trams, featuring classic vehicles from across the 20th century — from teak-bodied cars to the iconic PCC semi-streamliners of the 1950s.
• This is an ideal holiday for tramway enthusiasts and lovers of vintage transport, but equally enjoyable for non-enthusiast partners. Each city offers stylish, comfortable sightseeing, with major landmarks easily reached by tram. Experience the best of Belgium off the beaten path, with many memorable surprises along the way.

Friday 9 October 

Eurostar Plus International travel from London to Brussels

Travel from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi on a high-speed Eurostar. After checking into your centrally located quality hotel near the Art Deco Brussels Central station, you may explore the Belgian capital and its charming old town with the impressive Grand Place at leisure. You will also be given a complimentary public transport rover ticket. There’s a welcome dinner at the hotel tonight. (D)

Saturday 10 October

Brussels: A City and its tram heritage 

In the morning you travel by tram to Brussels’ famed Tramway Museum. After viewing the excellent collection, you enjoy a scenic 90-minute private charter on a charming early 20th-century tram, including rare track and photo stops. After the museum visit, the afternoon is free for sightseeing in Brussels or riding trams around the extensive network, before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon to collect your stored luggage and then take a direct SNCB Intercity train from Brussels Central to Ghent.

Sunday 11 October 

Antwerp and the Flemish Tramway Museum

After breakfast, travel by direct Intercity from Ghent to Antwerpen-Centraal, one of Europe’s most beautiful railway stations. From there you continue by tram to the Flemish Tramway and Bus Museum at Berchem for a guided visit followed by a vintage tram ride through the city streets. You then have free time to explore Antwerp’s landmarks, tramways and maritime port at your leisure. Return to Ghent at a time of your choosing using your flexible rail ticket. (B)

Monday 12 October

A day exploring Belgium’s coastal tramway

Ghent is only a short train ride from Knokke on Belgium’s Channel coast. Here you can enjoy windswept beaches, historic towns, and quaint villages along the North Sea, all connected by the Kusttram, the longest tramway in the world.

With your rover ticket, you may explore freely or join your Tour Manager on a suggested itinerary combining gentle walking, culture and scenery. In the late afternoon, return to Ghent from Oostende and enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B D)

Tuesday 13 October 

The Tramway of Liège and Museum of Public Transport

Travel to Liège, the principal city of French-speaking Wallonia. Dynamic and vibrant, Liège blends historic charm with modern energy and is home to Europe’s newest tramway, a 12-km line opened in 2025. Ride and photograph the line at leisure using your complimentary ticket, then visit the excellent Museum of Public Transport. Return to Ghent whenever you wish on the frequent direct Intercity services. (B)

Wednesday 14 October 

Rural tramways at Lobbes & Thuin; Charleroi’s industrial tram network

Today you visit one of Europe’s finest tramway preservation sites: the Tramway du Vicinal Museum in Thuin. Enjoy a private charter on an early 20th-century electric tram through the town, visit the depot, and then travel along the non-electrified rural line on a distinctive diesel tram. After refreshments and multiple photo stops, continue by train to Charleroi to explore its atmospheric M1/M2 tram lines, which run past historic steelworks and industrial landscapes from the early 20th century. Return to Ghent by Intercity train for dinner. (D)

Thursday 15 October 

Tramways, culture and history at leisure

Your final full day offers complete flexibility. Spend the day discovering more of Ghent, its medieval architecture, canals and squares or use your personalised ticket for an excursion to Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels or the North Sea coast. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers back at the hotel. (B D)

Friday 16 October 

Ghent at leisure and return to London

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Ghent before taking an afternoon Intercity to Brussels Midi to connect with your Eurostar service back to London St Pancras. (B)